Shoe-protector



(N Model.)

T. W. MABEE. SHOE PROTEGT'OR;

Patented Apr. 2, 1895.

WMM

"ATTE R NEY y NITED STATES;

PATENT OFFICE.

' THADDEUS W. MABEE, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

SHOE-PROTECTO R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 536,812, dated April 2, 1895.

Application filed. September 5, 1894. Serial To. 522,167. (N0 model.)

To @ZZ whom it may oon/cern.-

Be it known that I, THADDEU's W. MABEE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoe-Protectors, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a sole-protector for shoes of improved construction.

The device is designed to supply a want felt by motor-men of electric cars. One of the duties these men have to perform is to sound a gong or bell as a notice or dangersignal. This is done by the motorman depressing a foot-piece. The frequency of this action, it is found, produces calloused and sore spots on the bottom of the feet. The desideratum, therefore, is an attachment for the shoe which can be readily secured to or removed from the shoe, and consists of a reinforce for the shoe-sole that possesses a certain degree of lexibility in the longitudinal direction, so as to accommodate the bend of the foot made in the act of taking a step, and which also possesses stiffness in the cross direction in order to prevent the knob, or head, of the footpiece, which sounds the gong, from exerting a pressure on a ,small or contracted portion only of the sole of the mans foot,-this stiffness causing the pressure to extend over a large area of the sole of the foot, and thereby preventing the formation of a calloused spot. At the same time this device protects the shoe-sole from wear.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which* Figure -1 shows a side view of a shoe to which my improved sole protector is attached. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the shoe-protector. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of same. Fig. 4. is a bottom plan View as seen when the leather sole has been removed. Fig. 5 is alongitudinal section of the reinforce, on a larger scale. Fig. 6 is a view of one of the wedge bars.

rlhe letter, A, designates the top sole or layer of leather; B, the bottom sole or layer, and c', 02,03, the metal plates between these two layers.

The construction is as follows: Three metal plates, c', c2, c3, are parallel and extend crosswise of the top sole, A,. e., below the top Thus one rivet passes through each piece of metal plate and thereby the three pieces of plate are held. It will be seen that six rivets, f, are thus employed in securing the two ear pieces, d, the three separate' pieces of metal plate, c,c2, c3, and the top sole together. This construction provides for the desired. ilexibility in the longitudinal direction.

In order to provide a cushion or pad for the metal plates on their lower side, I cover them on the bottom with a sole of leather, B, and secure it temporarily by means of two rivets and metal washers,-g,-one at each end. These two removable rivets, g, are located one at each end of the pad, B, and the latter is unattached at its center. The rivets pass entirely through the bottom pad or sole, B, the two end plates, c', c3, and the top sole, A. It will be seen that the bottom pad, B, covers not only the three pieces ot' metal plate, but also covers the broad ends, d', of the two ears.

Each ear piece, d, narrows from the broad end to a width suitable for a strap. A buckle, d2, is attached to one, and the strap, d3, of thc other is adapted to be made fast to said buckle. These straps and buckle pass around the ball or front part of the shoe and hold the reinforce, A, B, up against the shoe sole. Another strap, h, is attached to one of the ears, d, and a buckle, i, to the other ear, and this strap passes around the heel or quarter of the shoe and keeps the reinforce from sliding forward toward the toe of the shoe. Each ear, d, has a wedge bar,j, on its inner face t0 bear or press against the edge of the shoe-sole when the device is secured on the foot. The thick eud,j, of the wedgeis toward the toe. Aspace,

and buckle, d2, are secured together around the shoe the two wedge bars,j, serve to clamp opposite edges of the shoe sole and keep the IOO reinforce from lateral movement, and as the thick end of each Wedge bar is toward the toe of the shoe-Where the shoesole is narrower-these Wedge bars keep the reinforce from sliding to the rear of the foot, and secure it fast from being pulled back toward the heel by the strap, h.

When the reinforce is on the foot of the lnotorinan it allows the desired flexibility in the act of taking a step, and it is yet stili so as to form a broad unyielding tread for the foot when the motorman desires to depress the knob ofthe foot-piece of the gong. With this device sores on the bottom of the feet are not likely to be produced by frequently depressing the gong foot-piece.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. A reinforce for shoe-soles having in coinbination, aflexible top sole, A; a plural nurnber of metal plates, c', c2, c3, parallel and extending crosswise; two ear pieces each secured by rivets, f,-one rivet passing through each metal plate, the top sole and the ear piece and straps connected With the ear pieces to secure the device to the shoe.

2. A reinforce for shoe-soles havng,in com# bination, a flexible top-sole, A; a plural number of metal plates, c', c2, c3, parallel and extending crosswise of and each riveted to the said top sole; a bottom pad or cushion, B, covering said metal plates, and secured at each end by a rivet Which passes entirely through the end plate and top sole, leaving the center of the said bottom pad unconined and free to accommodate itself to the movements of the foot; and straps to secure the reinforce to the shoe.

3. A reinforce for shoe soles having, in oo1nbiination, a exible top sole, A 5 a metal plate extending crosswise of said top sole; two ear pieces each secured by rivets; a wedge-bang', on the inner face of each ear piece with the thick end of the wedge toward the toe of the device; and straps connected with the ear pieces `to secure the device to the shoe.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

THADDEUS W. MA BEE@ Witnesses:

CHARLES B. MANN, Jr., C. CALVERT HILL. 

